Boot or shoe heel.



110.786,98@ l 1 1 PATENTED 1121111.11, 1905. J. OMBARA. y

11001011 SHOE HEEL.

APYPLIGATION FILED JUNI! 7, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, 25a/1MM f www -QM/Uj'm/ UNTED STAT-Es Patented April 11, 1905.

JEREMIAH OMEARA, AOF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BOOT OR SHOE HEEL.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 786,986, dated April 11, 1905.

s Application filed J une '7, 1904. Serial No. 211,493.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEREMIAH OMEARA, a

'of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Boot or Shoe Heels, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is t provide a detachable heel for boots and shoes that may be readily applied to the ordinary heel of a boot or shoe in accordance with the requirements ofthe weather.

In the preferred construction the heel comprises a hollow rubber heel-tap that may be slipped over the ordinary boot or shoe heel and metallic fastenings arranged in the ordinary heel and capable of engagement with the tapvto hold it temporarily or detachably upon the ordinary heel for the purpose of' giving the wearer a better foothold on slippery Walks.

Instead of rubber I may use metal or compositions suitable to prevent slipping or to lncrease the Wearing capacity of the ordinary eel.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the hollow rubber heel-tap. Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing this tap applied to an ordinary heel, the latter being broken out to show the fastenings. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of Fig. 2 in the plane of the fastenings. Figs.' 4., 5, and 6 are vertical cross-sections of threevseveral modified forms of fastenings. Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing a grooved or recessed lug on the tap to receive the projecting end of the fastening. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section showing auxiliary fastening-lugs integral with the tap. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a combined metal and rubber tap, and Fig. 10

is a vertical cross-section showing the tap of Fig. 9 applied to an ordinary heel. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an all-metal tap, and Fig. 12 is a vertical cross-section of the tap of Fig. 11 applied to an ordinary heel. Figs.

13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 are respectively views like Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4., and 5, with the grooved lugs added.

The tap 1 may be of rubber, composition, or other plastic matter capable of being molded and comprises a bottom, preferably having its outer face roughened or provided with lugs, anda peripheral upstanding iiange of the contour of an ordinary heel and of substantially uniform height and adapted to embrace the breast, sides, and back' of the heel. As thus constructed and as shown in detail in Fig. 1, the tap is hollow and is adapted to be fitted frictionally to an ordinary boot or shoe heel, and it may be secured to the heel by a variety of fastenings, some of which will be described now.

In Figs. 2 and 3 are shown metal fastenings 2, having eye portions 3 let into the sides of the ordinary heel and securedtherein by pins 4., Fig. 3, driven up through the heel and eye. rIhese fastenings have outwardly-extending tangs 5, which project through slits 6 in the upstanding flange of the tap, as in Fig. 2, and are turned down against the outside of said iiange, as in Fig. 3. The fastenings are of iiexible metal, so that their tangs are. capable of being repeatedly bent and straightened out for frequent application and removal of the tap, as desired. The tap being more or less elastic or iiexible may be readily slipped over the tangs. A

In Fig. 4. the ordinary heel has permanently embedded in it transversely a small metal tube 7 open at both sides of the heel, and through this tube and the flange of the tap is passed a wire 8, having its ends bent down against the flange; but, as shown in Fig. 5, the tube may be omitted and the wire 9 alone used, ahole being made through the heel for it.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7 separate wires 10 may be driven into the sides of the heel and their free ends passed downA through the bottom of the tap and then turned up on'the outside of the flange. the flange may have grooved lugs 11 to receive the ends o f the fastenings.

As shown in Fig. 8, the tap may be made with integral lugs 12 at front and back to enter holes in the heel and serve as auxiliary fastenings. 4 Y

The tap may consist of a anged metal frame 13, Figs. 9 and 10, havinga hole in its bottom In this or in' any case IOO in which is arranged a rubber or equivalent filling 14. This sort of tap may be secured to the heel by any of the i'astenings described; but I have used in Fig. 10 the form of fastening shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and the same is true of the solid metallic tap 15 shown in Figs. 11 and 12. In these tWo forms of metallic taps are fasteningsreceiving grooves 16 similar to those shown in Figs. 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17.

The invention is susceptible of other variations Within its principle of a flanged tap and a detachable fastening therofor.

What I claim is- 1. A boot or shoe heel tap comprising a bottom, and a peripheral upstanding iiange of the contour of an ordinary heel and adapted to be fitted frictionally to a heel and having perforations, combined with fastenings embedded in theheel and extending through the perforations in the tap and bent over upon the upstanding iiange thereof.

2. The combination oi. a tap having` a peripheral upstanding flange, and fastenings having eyes by which they may he secured in a heel and also having tangs to engage the upstanding flange.

3. rlhe combination of a tap having a per ripheral upstanding iiange, provided with external grooves and adapted to be applied to an ordinary boot or shoe heel, and iastenings adapted to be secured in the heel and to pass through the tap and be bent over into the grooves upon the tap.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto .set my hand this 4th day of June, A. l). 15101-,

J EREMIAH OM EA RA lVitiiesses:

VVAL'IER L. CLARK, Grao. 7. M. CLARK. 

